Nursery Technician

About the Program

Program Goal: Career

GE Pattern(s): None

Program Code: 07257.01CA

This Nursery Technician certificate provides students with the practical, hands-on experience they need to pursue employment in the areas of plant production, maintenance, or sales of ornamental and/or food crops in California. This program prepares students to advance to management positions in greenhouse and nursery businesses that propagate, grow and market plants for use in the home, business or the landscape. The program provides a solid foundation in plant knowledge and nursery and garden center environments, as well as computer applications and management skills.

Program Learning Outcome(s): Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be able to:

1. Select and correctly use florist tools, equipment and materials.
2. Design and construct arrangements used in the floral industry today.
3. List and analyze the costs associated with any floral design along with the appropriate markup to determine sale price.
4. Identify energy usage for heating, cooling and lighting various greenhouses as a cost of doing business.
5. Describe the scheduling of crop cycles including propagation start up, days to maturity, target market, price points, fertilizer and pesticide needs.
6. Calculate square footage needed for various crops, as they move through the growing cycle, to understand cost inputs as compared to potential revenues generated.